Supermarket

So far we've only got a couple of covers and a blurb description, but I'm already in love with Supermarket by Brian Wood and Kristian Donaldson:

Supermarket #1
(w) Brian Wood
(a) Kristian Donaldson
IDW Publishing

"Cash Rules Everything Around Me". In the future world of SUPERMARKET, it's the literal truth. Legitimate and black market economies rule the City, overseen by the vying factions of the Yakuza and Porno Swede crime families. Convenience store clerkette and 16-yo suburban wise-ass Pella Suzuki suddenly finds herself in the middle of it all, heir to an empire she couldn't possibly inherit, but hitmen on both sides aren't taking any chances. Co-created and written by Brian Wood (Demo, DMZ, The Couriers), SUPERMARKET is street level anti-consumerism with a healthy dose of violence and humor. Kristian provides lush, powerful artwork and makes this future world as real as if it were now.

Even though it's from IDW, and thus will cost $1 more than it should (although hopefully it'll be in color), I think I'll be getting this!

Fantasy and Science Fiction/Theory Reading Group

Earlier this year I started attending a local book group for Science Fiction and Fantasy that focus on theory and literary aspects and whatnot. I've found that it's a good way to give my reading some direction and I really enjoy the discussions that we have once a month.

Last night was the annual book selection meeting, where we chose the books we'll be reading for the coming year. Basically everyone brings suggestions and then we discuss and fight it out until something resembling a consensus is reached and 10 selections have been made.

Most of my suggestions didn't make it to the end, but the one that did was that we do a double-bill of two recent Grant Morrison GNs: Seaguy and We3. (The group tends more often than not to pick one GN each year--this past year we did The Dark Knight Returns). Most of the group are not heavy comics readers, so it'll be interesting to see what discussions develop.

The other books chosen by the group are:

Neil Gaiman, American Gods
Charles Stross, Accelerando
Connie Willis, To Say Nothing of the Dog
Cornelia Funke, Inkheart
Max Barry, Jennifer Government
Robert McKinley, Sunshine
Midori Snyder, Innamorati
Clifford Simack, Way Station
George R. Stuart, Earth Abides


Of which I've already read American Gods and Jennifer Government.

Yet Another Fantasy League: Week 5 Results

Here are the results from week 5 of Yet Another Fantasy League:



Power Pack 77
Kickers Inc. 39

B.P.R.D. 67
The Inferior Five 50

Moon Knights 38
www.rickgebhardt.net 52

Nine Pound Hammers 28
Tomorrow Syndicate 64

Danger Limited 54
The Maxx Squad 55

Inferior 5 plus 6 114
Secret Six 73


Current Standings:

   Team                 W-L-T  Pct    Pts  Streak
   -------------------  -----  -----  ---  ------
1. Inferior 5 plus 6    5-0-0  1.000  373  W-5
2. Power Pack           4-1-0   .800  340  W-3
3. B.P.R.D.             3-2-0   .600  349  W-1
4. Tomorrow Syndicate   3-2-0   .600  342  W-3
5. Nine Pound Hammers   3-2-0   .600  273  L-2
6. Kickers Inc.         3-2-0   .600  268  L-1
7. Secret Six           2-3-0   .400  339  L-1
8. The Maxx Squad       2-3-0   .400  281  W-1
9. Moon Knights         2-3-0   .400  239  L-1
10.www.rickgebhardt.net 2-3-0   .400  228  W-1
11.The Inferior Five    1-4-0   .200  250  L-2
12.Danger Limited       0-5-0   .000  262  L-5

Week 6 Games:

Tomorrow Syndicate (3-2-0)
vs.
Kickers Inc. (3-2-0)

Power Pack (4-1-0)
vs.
The Inferior Five (1-4-0)

B.P.R.D. (3-2-0)
vs.
www.rickgebhardt.net (2-3-0)

Inferior 5 plus 6 (5-0-0)
vs.
Moon Knights (2-3-0)

Nine Pound Hammers (2-3-0)
vs.
The Maxx Squad (2-3-0)

Danger Limited (0-5-0)
vs.
Secret Six (2-3-0)

Good luck to all!


In my other Fantasy Leagues, I lost 71-40 in my friends & family league (2-3-0, seventh place); won 40-37 in my public league (2-3-0, eighth place); and scored a pathetic 190.45 points in my Pass & Kick league, dropping me down to third place.